MJ suffered booze collapse before 2009 London gigs

Leaked documents have revealed Michael Jackson’s dubious mental state in the weeks before his London comeback shows. According to emails between bosses of his promotion firm AEG, the singer suffered a booze-fuelled breakdown as he prepared for the planned gigs in 2009.

Leaked documents have revealed Michael Jackson’s dubious mental state in the weeks before his London comeback shows.

HT Image

According to emails between bosses of his promotion firm AEG, the singer suffered a booze-fuelled breakdown as he prepared for the planned gigs in 2009.

He was also branded a “basket case” who was unable to perform, didn’t rehearse, refused to sing and needed psychiatric evaluation.

Indicating that Jacko was not ready to perform 50 gigs at the O2, show director Kenny Ortega told AEG MD Randy Phillips “There are strong signs of paranoia, anxiety and obsessive-like behaviour.

“I think the best thing we can do is get a top psychiatrist in to evaluate him ASAP,” he said.

The show’s musical director added: “MJ is not in shape enough yet to sing this stuff live and dance at the same time.”

And a production manager wrote: “He’s a basket case. Doubt is pervasive.”

In an email to AEG CEO Tim Leiweke, Phillips said: “We have a real problem.”

After missing rehearsals, Jacko finally showed up on June 19 but was too weak to perform.

Another time, Phillips wrote: “MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent. He is an emotionally paralysed mess riddled with self loathing and doubt”.

The revelations on his mental state emerged in emails produced for a trial between insurers Lloyds and AEG over whether the brokers should pay almost 12 million pounds for cancellation of the shows.

Lloyds wants a judge to nullify a 10.5-pound- million policy it says AEG got with false claims about Jacko’s health and ability to perform.

Jackson also ducked a medical ordered by Lloyds.

AEG suggested Dr Conrad Murray, found guilty of the star’s involuntary manslaughter, provide one but Lloyd’s refused.

AEG deny any wrongdoing. Its lawyer Marvin Putnam said: “Michael was an adult and it is supercilious to say he was unable to take care of his own affairs.”

They added the messages were incomplete and leaked to portray the company in a negative light.